Nordic Skiing Bliss

Imagine yourself gliding through the snow amongst evergreens, the sun is sparkling off the snow where it reaches the ground through the branches. You take a deep breath, and can smell the nearby pines and fir, and smile, because you realize the only thing that was on your mind was the sound of your skis on the snow.

This is nordic, or cross-country skiing! The benefits of partaking in this outdoor activity are many. Like any endurance endeavour it improves cardiovascular health, coordination, builds fatigue resistant muscles and healthy joints. There are mental health benefits too. Connection with nature will reduce stress, and if you are social, you can enjoy the camaraderie of friends while on the trails.

Cross-country skiing belongs in the family of movement skills; slide and glide. Other slide and glide skills include skating, alpine skiing and snowboarding. Unlike its relatives, cross country skiing isn’t only an outdoor activity, you get to immerse yourself in nature. Here, in our community, that may mean seeing wildlife or the tracks they have left behind, and experiencing the wonderful birds and mammals that make the trees their home. At our local Allison/Chinook cross country ski trails managed by CNP Nordic, you will enjoy viewpoints of the surrounding mountains while gliding on well groomed trails.

Cross-country skiing once learned, is a skill that you can use nearly your entire life! It is low impact and can be done with as much intensity as you choose! It is an excellent sport to do solo, with friends and with family. Like downhill skiing runs, trails are marked by how “easy” or “difficult” they are. If you are a beginner, the easy doesn’t always feel easy! The more difficult the trail, the more climbs and descents you will encounter.

Curious about this sport but would like some guidance? I am a certified coach with well over 30 years of experience on “skinny skis”. I plan to be doing this sport for another 30!

Written by Sarah Nurcombe

NCCP and CANSI Certified Coach at Fit2Function

Visit fit2function.ca to learn more